Couple robbed by group in skull masks in front of federal building

DETROIT - A man was robbed in front of the federal building in downtown Detroit, and one of the suspects was armed with an assault rifle.

Tom O'Grady claims three young men wearing skeleton masks pulled up in an older gray minivan Tuesday. One jumped out and pointed an assault rifle right in his face.

He and a female friend had just wrapped up a Detroit Tigers game and a trip to the casino. They missed their shuttle back to Casey's Pub where their car was parked, so they decided to walk.

O'Grady calls it a beautiful stroll through the city, until he passed the McNamara Federal Building on Michigan Avenue.

"That's where I thought we were safe because I was talking about the barricades are here so no one can pull up and bomb the building," he said. "Right as I said that, they pulled up on the other side and jumped out.

"He already had the gun pointed at us as he was running toward us, he said put all your (blank) on the ground," O'Grady said. "(The woman I was with said) 'In front of the federal building?' He's like, 'Shut the f up before I blow your brains out.'"

The Melvindale man emptied his pockets, handing over his wallet and phone and the woman surrendered her purse.

"I was scared for my life, she was screaming don't hurt us," he said. "I was trying to cooperate to get them to leave."

O'Grady's first thought was where the police. He says there was none in sight, but in the short time FOX 2 was there getting video, federal security was not far behind.

O'Grady says the terrifying ordeal lasted about three minutes. When the crooks took off so did they, without a phone they had to continue their walk to Casey's Pub a couple miles away where they were finally able to call Detroit police.

"People can go downtown and enjoy downtown shouldn't have to worry in front of the federal building," he said.

O'Grady said the suspects even stole the .28 cent voucher he got at the casino. They spent about $31 on his credit cards until he cancelled them.

Police are now involved, saying they plan to talk to O'Grady tomorrow.

An official said that no surveillance video can be taken from the building's cameras because they were not operational at the time.